Ships hit by U-boats


Corabella

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, P09771

NameCorabella
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,682 tons
Completed1937 - J.L. Thompson & Sons Ltd, North Sands, Sunderland 
OwnerSaguenay Terminals Ltd, Montreal 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack30 Apr 1943Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-515 (Werner Henke)
Position7° 15'N, 13° 49'W - Grid ET 6278
Complement48 (9 dead and 39 survivors).
ConvoyTS-37
RouteTakoradi (26 Apr) - Freetown - UK 
Cargo8065 tons of manganese ore 
History Completed in August 1937

On 18 August 1942 the Corabella in convoy SL-118 picked up 88 survivors from the Hatarana which had been sunk by U-214
Notes on event

At 22.56 hours on 30 April 1943, U-515 fired two stern torpedoes at convoy TS-37 about 130 miles southwest of Freetown and observed hits after 58 and 59 seconds. The first ship was seen sinking fast and another broke in two after being hit under the bridge. At 22.57 hours, one torpedo was fired, which struck a freighter amidships after 52 seconds. A fourth torpedo fired one minute later struck another freighter amidships, which exploded. At 22.59 hours, a fifth torpedo was fired and struck after 1 minute a ship, which immediately sank. A sixth torpedo fired at 23.01 hours hit a freighter after 1 minute 30 seconds, but the sinking could not be observed. Henke claimed five ships of 31,000 grt sunk and another of 6000 grt probably sunk. However, only four ships were hit and sunk, the Corabella, Bandar Shahpour, Kota Tjandi and Nagina.

Nine crew members from the Corabella (Master Peter Leggett) were lost. The master, 30 crew members and eight gunners were picked up by HMS Birdlip (T 218) (Lt E.N. Groom, RNR) and landed at Freetown the next day.

 
On boardWe have details of 13 people who were on board


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